Job market orientation

After obtaining their PhD, most of our graduates find a new position outside the University, for instance in the private sector or a civil society organisation. As you will not necessarily continue your career within the academic world, it is important to start thinking in good time about what you would like to do after completing your PhD.

We advise you to already start thinking about your further career in the third year of your PhD programme. Important steps you can take:

Visit the PhD Career Platform for self-reflection and personality tests, online courses, tips and testimonials of alumni.

Then visit a career coach. Together you work on the results of the exercises and tests. In one to three individual sessions, the coach helps you turn the acquired insights into a concrete action plan.

Postdoc position

If you wish to work in the academic world after receiving your PhD, then a logical choice is to apply for a postdoc position, where you will conduct academic research on the basis of a temporary contract.

Fellowships

Some faculties offer the opportunity of a research fellowship to talented researchers with a PhD who wish to become more specialised. This enables you to conduct academic research at a high level within a research programme. For example, see the opportunities offered bythe LEaDing Fellows Postdoc programme.